2014 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls

ON 11/18/13, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 PM, I WAS HEADING DOWN A STREET TO MAKE A LEFT TO GO HOME FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE WITH MY RIGHT FOOT. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT ONTO AN EMPTY STREET TO AVOID TWO OTHER CARS AT THE INTERSECTION WHO WERE GOING TO MAKE THE SAME LEFT I ORIGINALLY WANTED TO MAKE. FOR SOME REASON, THE CAR DID NOT GO ALL THE WAY RIGHT AND WENT DIAGONALLY FROM THE INTERSECTION ACROSS THE STREET. THE CAR THEN JUMPED A CURB HITTIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 468 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552894 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FABRIC USED ON THE REAR DECK SHELF LOCATED BEHIND THE REAR SEATS OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED A HAZING AND GLARING EFFECT FROM THE SUNLIGHT COMING THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE HAZING AND GLARING EFFECT IMPAIRED THE REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY THE COLOR OF THE REAR DECK SHELF MATERIALS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND AGREED TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF THE REAR DECK SHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608033 at NHTSA ↗

THE MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE UPPER SEAT BACK DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. IT REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO PULL THE SEAT-BACK FORWARD TO ENGAGE, OTHERWISE THE HANDLE WILL REMAIN THE UP POSITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE MECHANICAL SEATS HAVE THAT ISSUE ON SEVERAL OF THEIR VEHICLES, INCLUDING DIFFERENT YEARS. IF IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE SEAT IS NOT ENGAGED PROPERLY IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10628881 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE HAD A 2-5 SECONDS ACCELERATION HESITATION. TAKING OFF FROM A YIELD SIGN AND GOING ACROSS A HWY, THE CAR HAD ENOUGH POWER TO ROLL FORWARD. TRIED FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR, BUT ALSO DID NOT RESPOND TO FULL THROTTLE UNTIL AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR STARTED TO SLOWLY MOVE. THE ENGINE IS ON LOW RPMS AND DOES NOT LAUNCH FORWARD AS TO INDICATE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE..... IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A FUEL DELIVERY OR THROTTLE SENSOR ISSUE. I ALSO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA (TRADED IN THE IMPREZA THINKING IT WAS A QUIRK WITH THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649644 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW 2014 SUBARU LEGACY ON MAY 16TH 2014. ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING UP THE SLIGHT INCLINE OF THE DRIVEWAY OF THE APARTMENT HOUSE WHERE I LIVE. AS I REACHED THE STREET I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO TURN OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC AND THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER. ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER THE POWER RETURNED AND THE CAR RESPONDED NORMALLY WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR NORMALLY. THREE OR FOUR DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, AS I TRIED TO ACCELE…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10655186 at NHTSA ↗

EXPERIENCED STUCK DRIVER'S WINDOW LAST SUMMER IN PERIOD OF TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS (EXTREME TO MODERATE HEAT), REPORTED/SHOWN TO DEALERSHIP; SAME ISSUE THIS FEBRUARY (EXTREME TO MODERATE COLD). OTHERWISE, NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR SINCE BEGAN LEASE FALL 2014. ON MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015, PARKED CAR ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE ABOUT 6:15/6:30PM. DID ERRANDS, RETURNED ABOUT 30/45 MINUTES LATER TO GET GLASSES OUT OF CENTER CONSOLE -- 7/7:15PM. THEN I LOCKED THE CAR WITH REMOTE KEY PIECE. CAR ACKNOWLEDGED WITH SOUND, LIGHTS. THIS WAS THE LAST INTE…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10695291 at NHTSA ↗

2014 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CLAMP THAT HOLDS VEHICLE BUMPER REPLACEMENT ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE BUMPER HAD POPPED OUT. SHE MANAGED TO PUSH IT BACK IN. HOWEVER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON ANOTHER OCCASION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE CLAMP THAT HELD THE BUMPER IN PLACE WAS MISSING AND IT WAS POSSIBLE SHE MAY HAVE WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THEM TO BECOME LOOSE, AND EVENTUALLY LOST. A NEW CLAMP WAS INSTALLED AND THERE WAS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10851618 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR DANGEROUSLY WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD SOMETIMES EVEN INTO ANOTHER LANE AND REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTION. THE DEALER ALIGNED THE STEERING BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SUBARU WON'T FIX, SAYS IT'S NORMAL.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853175 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-08-01 (August 1, 2013)

Subaru of America is recalling certain model year 2014 Legacy 3.6R and Outback 3.6R and 2013 Tribeca vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through June 28, 2013 and equipped with 5-speed automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the parking rod may come loose inside the automatic transmission.

Consequence: As a result of the parking rod detaching, the transmission may not be able to be moved from the "park" position preventing the vehicle from being moved or driven. Furthermore, even with the transmission shifted into the 'park' position, the parking mechanism may not engage, and the vehicle may roll away while in the "park" position, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. The recall began during August 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall number is WQJ-46.

Reported: 2016-09-27 (September 27, 2016)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt.

Consequence: If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the wiper motor cover may melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTK-71. Note: This recall supersedes recall 11V-469. All vehicles that were remedied under that campaign are affected by this campaign, and need to have their wiper motor bottom cover replaced again.

Reported: 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.

Consequence: A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPB actuator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTV-81.

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.

Reported: 2019-04-11 (April 11, 2019)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

Reported: 2020-01-02 (January 2, 2020)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.

Reported: 2020-01-02 (January 2, 2020)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.

Reported: 2020-01-02 (January 2, 2020)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.